{"id":10270,"date":"2021-09-02T07:29:17","date_gmt":"2021-09-02T03:29:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/findingyourease.com\/?p=10270"},"modified":"2022-04-04T14:40:55","modified_gmt":"2022-04-04T10:40:55","slug":"getting-back-to-normal-is-that-really-the-goal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/findingyourease.com\/getting-back-to-normal-is-that-really-the-goal\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cGetting back to normal\u201d – is that really the goal?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ok, here it is. This \u201cgetting back to normal\u201d saying is doing something to me. I know I might overthink that one. I assume, mostly it\u2019s meant in regards to  being able to meet family and friends, be out and about, work, schooling, doing day to day things, etc without restrictions and masks. <\/span><\/p>\n

But, I can\u2019t help it, that sentence triggers something in me. Mainly, I think, because I wonder if \u201cGetting back to normal\u201d should really be the goal?<\/p>\n

I do get it, we all had sh** to deal with, are tired, exhausted, and just done by all that was \/ is happening with the pandemic. And \u201cnormal\u201d is what we crave. <\/span><\/p>\n

But do we really want to go \u201cback\u201d to normal? If we need to define what we want to go back to, should we then not rather consider a \u201cnew normal\u201d? Amongst all the sorrow, pain, heartache and fear, haven\u2019t we as well learned, experienced, shared and seen good things these past two years that would be important to carry on? <\/span><\/p>\n

Sadly, some of that good what we saw in the beginning of the pandemic seems to vanish already. While it felt like togetherness, understanding, empathetic and supportive in the beginning, it seems to have shifted. One can feel, hear and read more aggression, hate, bad mouthing; more me-versus-you and judgmental comments. It feels more \u201chostile\u201d, do you experience the same? <\/span><\/p>\n

And what is \u201cnormal\u201d anyway?<\/h3>\n

As per definition normal means \u201cthe usual, typical, or expected state or condition.\u201d (Oxford Languages). It’s root goes back to the latin word normalis. And it “…described something made with a carpenter’s square. Something built this way would be normed to have angles that were perfectly aligned and fit a general pattern. This meaning eventually gave us the broader sense of fitting a pattern, standard, or average.”<\/p>\n

And yes, there are lots things that can be defined as normal. I you ask me, it would be more measurable things. But when it comes to our individual lives – I think not so much.<\/p>\n

After all, how can I compare my \u201cnormal\u201d daily life to yours? For example – I have three kids in the age of 7 til 14 years old, move countries in average every 3 – 4 years. It\u2019s normal for me and my family to pick and pack our things up and move across the globe and restart over again, for more than 18 years now. <\/span><\/p>\n

All this, is very normal to us, but not to others. But others have their own \u201cnormal\u201d. Whether you have children, are married, move around or not. And neither is better or worse. It\u2019s just each of our individual \u201cnormal\u201d life. <\/span><\/p>\n

And with the pandemic, to me the view on \u201cnormal\u201d has changed all over. And somehow I don\u2019t want the full \u201cold normal\u201d anymore. What I do want to get back to is to experience a sense of normalcy in my, and my family\u2019s, life. But again, how that – the normalcy – will look for me, my family and anyone else out there will be different. I can only speak for myself.<\/p>\n

I hope to find my new sense of normal<\/h3>\n

How? By somehow keeping a bit slower, gentler, softer pace of life. It was crazy busy and hectic at times before the pandemic. And even though the days were certainly too quiet and slow, I want to keep some of that with me \/ us. It was kind of nice to be forced to pause. It created more time to reflect, go more inward. No, it wasn\u2019t always pleasant, it scared the sh** out of me at times, but when I allowed myself to really go down that path, it was good. <\/span><\/p>\n

I would love to see it as normal, that we are all more understanding, supportive, caring and kind and less judgmental and harsh towards one another. Rather than to undermine a different opinion right away, seek a dialogue. It was there, we had it. I experienced it. Was it easier when we were all connected by the \u201cunknown\u201d when the pandemic started? Somehow it felt that we were more \u201capart but still more together\u201d back then, even when we had different opinions experiences, or approaches.<\/p>\n

I hope too, that people will stop judging one another for being less \u201copen\u201d about all the new \u201copenness\u201d – or as some name it \u2018freedom\u2019 again. We all head out there with different approaches. Some are super excited and relieved. Others more reserved, cautious, concerned, scared. We’re all allowed to feel differently about the openings again. <\/span><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s see it \u201cnormal\u201d to be gentler and kinder, like we all were when we were all in the midst of it.<\/p>\n

So, yes I am working towards a sense of normalcy, without the full desire to return \u201cback to normal\u201d. For myself, I definitely would like to return back to some normalcy where I feel less stressful, fearful, worried and concerned about almost everything in the tenfold. Where I experience a more carefree mind and living again.  <\/span><\/p>\n

Apart from behaviors mentioned above, some kind of \u201cnormal\u201d day to day life right now<\/i> for me would be to:
\n–  <\/span>keep wearing a mask (at least indoors for longer).
\n–  <\/span>keep social distancing (but to hug family and dear friends without having to worry)
\n– enforce hand washing.<\/p>\n

Overall to remain vigilant but <\/span><\/p>\n